Legal Adviser

We are the regulator for the optical professions in the UK.  Our purpose is to protect the public by promoting high standards of education, performance and conduct amongst opticians. We currently register around 30,000 optometrists, dispensing opticians, student opticians and optical businesses.

We currently have a number of opportunities for legal qualified individuals from a range of backgrounds to play a key part in the regulation of optical professionals by becoming a Legal Adviser to the committees that decide on complaints against registrants and optical businesses.

We are looking for individuals who can offer their skills and knowledge for several days throughout the year to support our fitness to practise function.  We are looking for individuals who are to bring a fresh perspective. We particularly welcome applications from applicants who can reflect the mix of our registrants and patients.

Role summary

Legal Advisers are to be appointed for the purpose of giving advice to the Fitness to Practise and Registration Appeals Committees on questions of law arising in connection with any matter which the Committee is considering.  They will provide legal advice to the Committee and assist the Chair in making sure that the hearing is conducted fairly.  The Legal Adviser drafts the decision of the Committee but does not play any role in the Committee decision-making. 

Legal Advisers must have at least 5 years’ experience of practice and must not be a member of the Council.  They are to be appointed for the purpose of giving advice to the Fitness to Practise and Registration Appeals Committees on questions of law arising in connection with any matter which the Committee is considering.  They will provide timely and appropriate legal advice to ensure a transparent and lawful fitness to practise function, ensuring cases are dealt with efficiently, objectively and fairly.

We are proud of being an employer that values the diversity of its workforce and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds and sections of the community to apply.

Remuneration: The daily rate for all hearings will be £450 plus VAT.  The half day rate will be £225 plus VAT.    

Interviews: Will take place between 12 - 16 August 2019

Application deadline: Monday 22 July 2019 - (17:00)

Further information

The information pack below provides details of the role, information on the General Optical Council, details of how to apply and information regarding the application process as well as further detail about the timetable. 

We highly recommend you read the application pack, paying particular attention to the competences required, before starting to complete your application form, so you can take this into account when writing your competency statements.

Please send your completed application form, with a CV, (no more than 3 A4 sides) and a completed EDI monitoring form, to vdesai@optical.org by Monday 22 July 2019 (17:00).

 GOC - Legal Adviser - Information pack for applicants - Final

Legal Adviser - Application Form

 EDI Monitoring Form

If you would like to have an informal discussion about the role, please contact Vineeta Desai at vdesai@optical.org or on 020 7871 0411

If you welcome the challenge of helping to take a leading role in supporting optical regulation at this time, we would be delighted to hear from you. 

We strive to be as diverse as the public we protect and welcome applications from everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity.